Hepatic Encephalopathy
Hello All,
I am hoping that you all might be able to help me wrap my brain around this issue. With the ICD-10 implementation our coders are telling us that in order to code a hepatic encephalopathy the MD has to specifically state (acute of chronic) Hepatic failure with coma and that hepatic encephalopathy is not a code-able term with the transition. I looked this up in the coding clinics and the only clinics that I can find are from 2007. There so happens to be one that is my patient exactly
"Coding Clinic, Second Quarter 2007 Page: 6 to 7 Effective with discharges: June 30, 2007
Question:
What codes are assigned when the patient has hepatic encephalopathy due to chronic viral hepatitis C with cirrhosis?
Answer:
Assign code 070.44, Chronic Hepatitis C with hepatic coma, for hepatic encephalopathy due to chronic viral hepatitis C. Assign also code 571.5, Cirrhosis of liver without mention of alcohol, for the cirrhosis."
I have hepatic encephalopathy due to chronic Hepatitis C throughout the chart. It seems to me to be unnecessary to query the MD for a coma.
I even tried to find if there was a difference in definition of Hepatic encephalopathy and Hepatic Coma in Up To Date- both terms took me to the encephalopathy.
Any insight would be helpful,
April McClafferty RN, CDS
Baylor All Saints Medical Center
Fort Worth, Tx
april.mcclafferty@baylorhealth.edu
I am hoping that you all might be able to help me wrap my brain around this issue. With the ICD-10 implementation our coders are telling us that in order to code a hepatic encephalopathy the MD has to specifically state (acute of chronic) Hepatic failure with coma and that hepatic encephalopathy is not a code-able term with the transition. I looked this up in the coding clinics and the only clinics that I can find are from 2007. There so happens to be one that is my patient exactly
"Coding Clinic, Second Quarter 2007 Page: 6 to 7 Effective with discharges: June 30, 2007
Question:
What codes are assigned when the patient has hepatic encephalopathy due to chronic viral hepatitis C with cirrhosis?
Answer:
Assign code 070.44, Chronic Hepatitis C with hepatic coma, for hepatic encephalopathy due to chronic viral hepatitis C. Assign also code 571.5, Cirrhosis of liver without mention of alcohol, for the cirrhosis."
I have hepatic encephalopathy due to chronic Hepatitis C throughout the chart. It seems to me to be unnecessary to query the MD for a coma.
I even tried to find if there was a difference in definition of Hepatic encephalopathy and Hepatic Coma in Up To Date- both terms took me to the encephalopathy.
Any insight would be helpful,
April McClafferty RN, CDS
Baylor All Saints Medical Center
Fort Worth, Tx
april.mcclafferty@baylorhealth.edu